The Spook 9 - Slither's tale by Delaney Joseph

had not told her just how bad things were. The odds against me were indeed great, and I would probably be taken and killed, either on the journey or immediately upon entering the city. It was unlikely that I would live long enough to make a successful plea to the ruling council. If I died, the three girls would become slaves at best; at worst they would be drained of blood and eaten.
    After that Nessa became very quiet; she went off to sleep without even wishing me a good night. Humans such as Nessa often lack manners, so I wasn’t really surprised.

ABOUT AN HOUR after dawn, the wind dropped and the blizzard became just a light whirling of snowflakes falling lazily out of the grey dome of the sky.
    ‘I need my coat back, little Nessa,’ I told her. ‘You will have to share what you have with your youngest sister.’
    Sooner or later I would have to fight, and I wanted to be wearing the long black coat, my badge of office, so that any enemy would appreciate the strength of what he faced. I noted that it was Nessa who surrendered some of her garments to clothe the child, including her waterproof cape. They were far too big but would provide the necessary protection against the elements. Nessa would now find the conditions more difficult. I noted that Susan did not volunteer any of her garments.
    As was my custom, before mounting my horse I stood in front of it and breathed quickly into its nostrils three times.
    ‘What are you doing?’ Nessa asked, her face alive with curiosity. She had obviously wisely decided not to fight against my wishes.
    ‘I am using what we mages call
boska
. I have changed the composition of the air within my lungs before breathing into its nostrils. I have thus infused the animal with obedience and courage. Now, if I have to fight, my mount will not flinch from the enemy that faces us!’
    ‘Will you have to fight? Does danger threaten?’ she asked.
    ‘Yes, little Nessa, it is very likely. So now we must press on and hope for the best.’
    ‘How much further have we to travel? Each day seems the same. I’m losing track of time – it seems like weeks have passed already.’
    ‘This is merely our fifth morning. It is better not to think about the rest of the journey. Just take each day as it comes.’
    We left the old farmhouse behind. Soon we came to a rocky, barren area where the snow had melted. Steam rose from cracks in the ground, and from time to time the earth trembled and there was a smell of burning on the breeze.
    ‘What’s this place?’ Nessa asked, riding up alongside me.
    ‘It is the Fittzanda Fissure, an area of earthquakes and instability. This is the southern boundary of our territories. Soon we will be in the land of my people.’
    We continued north across that steaming, shaking terrain, our horses even more nervous than the three purrai. The area was vast, and its shifting rocky nature would make us difficult to track. Those who pursued us from the fortress would expect me to flee south – not north to what might well be my execution – so that was to my advantage.
    And soon others would be hunting us too. The dying thoughts of the assassin would have been sent out to his brotherhood. They would know who had slain him. Some would already be out there in the snowy wilderness or even close by, and they would sense my location and begin to converge on our path. The Triumvirate of High Mages might also send further assassins from Valkarky.
    Out here they would try to kill me on sight. I needed to reach the city in one piece in order to win the right of plea before the council.
    Only one thing bothered me. Did I still have the courage and ruthlessness to defeat my enemies? Or had I already been infected with skaiium, as my softness towards Nessa indicated?
    It was not long before an enemy found me – but it was not the Shaiksa assassin I’d expected. The High Mages had sent a very different creature.
    The assassin waited directly ahead of us. At first glance it